Electric circuit switch controlling device



Jan. 26, 1937. A U 2,068,94

ELECTRIC CIRCUI T SWITCH CONTROLLING DEVICE Filed Dec. 29, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 v INVENTOR [I g 5 .41 Elm/mm /x mans/911 ATTORN EY J D-Z r A. H. CHAPLEAU 2,058,944

ELECTRIC CIRCUIT SWITCH CONTROLLING DEVICE Filed Dec. 29, 1934 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 r 2 vim? g iianz 32 I I a 7e INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 26, 1937 ELECTRIC CIRCUIT SWITCH CONTROLLING DEVICE Alexander H. Ohapleau, Newark, N. J., assignor of forty per cent to Walter Chapleau, Bayonne, N

Application December 29, 1934, Serial No. 759,648

Claims. (Cl. 200-59) This invention relates to an electric circuit switch controlling device.

The object of the invention is the production of an electric circuit switch controlling device, for the signals of a motor vehicle and the like.

The second object of the invention is the production of an electric circuit switch controlling device for a motor vehicle, by means of which switches are opened or closed by turning the steering wheel of the vehicle in opposite directions.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 indicates a side elevation of an automobile with the electric circuit switch controlling device connected thereto; Fig. 2 shows an enlarged elevation of the device; Fig. 3 is a section of Fig. 2 on the line 3.3; Fig. 4 shows a section on the line 4.4 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 represents an enlarged section of Fig. 3 on the line 5.5; Fig. 6 shows a section on the line 6.6 of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 shows a partial left hand view of Fig. 5 and a section of said Fig. 5 on the line 1.1; Fig. 8 indicates a section similar to Fig. 6 with an additional element and the movable elements in different positions; Fig. 9 shows an enlarged top view of one of the switches of the device; Fig. 10 indicates a front View of Fig. 9; Fig. 11 shows a section of Fig. 10 on the line I H I; Fig. 12 represents a section of Fig. 10 on the line |2.|2; Fig. 13 shows a fragmentary portion of Fig. 5 Viewed in an opposite direction; Fig. 14 shows a view similar to Fig. 6 with modifications; Fig. 15 indicates a section of Fig. 14 on the line |5.| 5; Fig. 16 shows a fragmentary modified portion of Fig. 7; and Fig. 1'7 indicates a wiring diagram of the device.

An automobile is indicated in its entirety by the numeral I! having the front signal lights l8 and I9 and the rear signal lights |8a and |9a. The steering post is shown at 20 and which is positioned within the usual stationary steering post housing 2|. To the upper end of the post 20 is fastened the hub 23 of the usual steering wheel 24.

A cylindrical shaped switch housing is designated in its entirety by the numeral 25 and comprises the members having the longitudinal semicylindrical shaped walls 28 and 29, which are detachably clamped to each other by the clamps 30. The said clamps 30 are fastened to the walls 28 and 29 by the screws 3|, and small dowel pins 32 extend from each of the clamps 30 and engage openings in the walls 28 and 29. Bottom walls 33 and 34 respectively having the annular openings 35 and 36 extend from the Walls 28 and 29 and which with the said walls 28 and 29 form the operating chamber 31. Semi-cylindrical shaped sleeve members 38 extend from the bottom walls 33 and annular controlling plate comprises the members 50 and 5| which are halved at their ends as indicated at 52, to connect them to each other with the bolts 54. To the upper face of said annular controlling plate is fastened the female member 55 of a latch, having the upright prongs 56. The member 55 is fastened to the annular controlling plate by a pair of the bolts 54. From the hub 23 of the steering wheel 24 extends the male member 58 of the latch and which has integral therewith the latch heel 59, that engages the female member 55 and is positioned between its prongs 56.

To the lower face of the controlling plate having the members 50 and 5| is fastened the switch control housing 65. In the latter is journaled the shaft 66 and at one end of which latter is fastened the switch control wheel 61 having the five radially short projecting arms 68 of equal length and the one long radially projecting arm 69. The said arms are equally spaced from one another. A nut 12 is tightly clamped to the other end of the shaft 66. A pair of plate springs 13 have each one end fastened to a side of the housing 65, and their other ends are adapted to bear against the fiat sides of the nut 12, to maintain the switch control wheel 61 in operative position.

A pair of similar electric controlling switches designated in their entireties by the numerals l8 and 19 are respectively positioned upon the upper faces of the walls 33 and 34. Each of said switches comprises the U shaped housing having the bottom wall 8| with the threaded openings 82 and the side walls 83. A cover 84 of electric insulating material is positioned upon the top faces of the walls 83 and is clamped thereto by the screws 85. A vertical operating shaft 88 extends through the wall BI and the cover 84. An arm 89 extends from the shaft 88 and supports the terminal connecting cap comprising the head 98 having the spherical top wall 9|. A shank 92 extends from said head which is enclosed in the sleeve 93 of electric insulating material, and the latter is tightly supported in an opening in the arm 89. A spring 95 has one end fastened to one of the side walls 83 and its free end 99 bears against the arm 99. A helical spring 91 encircles the shaft 98 and bears between the arm 99 and the wall 9L A manual operating handle I99 extends from the lower end of the operating shaft 89. Upon the top face of the shaft 98 is positioned the adjusting plate I9I, comprising the pair of inclined wings I92 between which is indicated the cavity I93. The adjusting plate I9I is fastened to the operating shaft 99 by means of the screw Iiii. Terminals in the electric circuit of the controlling switches are indicated at I and I9"! and extend into recesses in the cover 99, and are held in place by the pins I99. Against the bottom faces of the walls 33 and 3t bear the U shaped clamping plates II9, having each the central opening IIi through which the operating shaft 99 extends. Screws H2 extend through the walls 93, 99, the plates I I9 and engage the threaded openings 32 of the walls 8|, to detachably clamp the switches :19 and E9 in operating position.

Upon the top face of the wall 34 is detachably positioned the block support II8 for the plate shaped controlling cam II9 having the front face I29 and the rear face I2l. A screw I22 extends through the wall 34 and engages the block support H8. The cam M9 inclines to a radial line extending through the steering post 29.

Referring to Figs. i l and 15, the steering post is again shown at '29 with its steering post housing 2I. The switch housing is again indicated in its entirety by the numeral 25, with its walls 29 and 29, and the clamps 99 to connect them to each other. The bottom walls for the housing are again indicated at 39 and 39. In this modification the openings 95 and 39 are indicated in the wall 9 5.

The walls 29 and 29 in this modification are indicated with the outwardly extending projections 43a, having the annular guides 49a. The members of the annular controlling plate are again indicated at 59 and 5i, and have formed therewith the U shaped locking flanges I25 hav ing the lower members I26. The latter engage the annular guides 49a and thereby provide a connection between the members 59 and 5I and the walls 29 and 29 which prevents dust entering the operating chamber 31.

The switch control housing 55 is again shown with its shaft 95, the switch control wheel 9'! with its short projecting arms 98 and its long projecting arm 99. The controlling switches are again indicated at is and 19, but upon each of their operating shafts is secured the adjusting plate I39 having only one inclined wing I32.

Referring to Fig. 16 the invention is again modified in having integral with the Walls 28 and 29 of its operating chamber the annular inwardly extending guide flanges I35. The members of the annular controlling plate are indicated at I98 and I39 which have formed therewith the annular guides M9 that engage the flanges I35 to prevent dust entering the operating chamber 31.

Referring to Fig. 1'7, the wiring diagram of the device is indicated with the pair of front signal lights I9 and I9 and the pair of rear signal lights I91 and i960. The controlling switches are shown at 79 and i9. A battery I95 for electric current has extending from one of its terminals the wire I49 which is grounded at I i'I From the other terminal of the battery extends the wire I49 which leads to the terminals I59 and I5! for the controlling switches I8 and I9. A

wire I53 leads from the switch I8 and connects with the wire I54, which latter leads to the signal lights I8 and I8a. A wire I55 leads from the signal light I8 to the ground I56 and a wire E51 leads from the signal light I8a to the ground I58. A wire I 69 leads from the switch I9 to the wire ISI and the latter leads to the signal lights I9 and I951. A wire I62 leads from the signal light I9 to the ground I63 and a wire 99 leads from the signal light [9a and extends to the ground I65.

To energize the signal lights it may be supposed that the automobile is moving in a straight direction and the annular controlling plate having the members 59 and 5! is in its neutral position,

as shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7. If the operator wishes to turn to the left, as indicated by the arrow A in Fig. 6, the switch control wheel 6'! being in position with its long arm 69 extending downwardly, the operator upon turning the steering wheel 24, the long arm 69 will engage the cavity I 99 of the adjacent adjusting plate I M, and turns the latter to the position shown in Fig. 8 and the electric circuit of the switch I9 will be closed and the signal lights I9 and I9a on the left side of the automobile are lit. Upon further turning the steering wheel 24 the long arm 99 bears against the front face I29 of the cam II9 and thereby the wheel 6'! turns through an angle of 60 degrees. The operator can make five turns of the steering wheel 24 and for each turn one of the short arms 68 contacts with the said front face I29 of the cam H9 without extinguishing the signal lights I9 and 59a... The wheel 6'! turns 60 degrees for each time that one of its arms contacts with the cam wheel 24 in a direction opposite to the arrow A, and the short arms 68 one after the other will bear against the rear face I2I of the cam II 9.-

arm 99 again contacts with the cavity I93 of the switch I9, which turns the latter from the position shown in Fig. 8 to the original position indicated in Fig. 6. Thereby the electric circuit for the signals I9 and I9a is opened, which extinguishes the said lights. To energize the signal lights I9 and I8a on the right side of the automobile, the steering wheel 24 is initially turned in a direction opposite to the arrow A and similar steps are taken as described. If desired the electric light signals can be controlled by the operating handle I99 for the steps already described.

Referring to Figs. 14 and 15, the signal lights are always energized by the operating handle I99, but are extinguished automatically.

In Figs. 14 and 15, the inclined wing I3I of the adjusting plate I39 is shown in its neutral position and the operating handle I99 is turned in the direction of the arrow B to energize the signals i9 and I9a. If the steering wheel is next turned in the direction of the arrow A, Fig. 14, the switch control wheel 61 will be turned as already described but the lights will remain energized. If the operator turns the steering wheel 24 in a direction opposite the arrow A, the switch control wheel 91 will be turned as before described until the long arm 69 is pointed down wardly when it will strike the wing I3I and turn it to the neutral position shown in Fig. 14, there by the electric circuit of the lights I9 and I 9a is opened.

If the operator wishes to extinguish the signal lights I9 and !9a, he turns the steering It will be noted that when the long arm 69 of the Wheel 61 rides on the wings I02 or l3! that the said wings descend against the tension of the springs 91 to smoothly locate the long arm 69 in proper position.

It will be also noted that the number of short arms 68 of the wheel 61 can be varied, depending upon the number of turns to be made by the steering post of the vehicle, before the long arm 69 is positioned to coact with the switches I8 and 79.

It will also be noted that the switches 18 and 19 can be clamped in different positions to vary the distance between said switches, to control the amount of rotation of the steering post 20 before the long arm 59 coacts with the switches.

Various modifications may be made in the invention and the present exemplifications are to be taken as illustrative and not limitative.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a device of the character described the combination of the steering post of a vehicle, a stationary steering post housing encircling the steering post, a switch housing connected to the steering post housing, an annular rotatable controlling plate at the upper end of the switch housing, connecting means between said plate and the steering post, a housing fastened to and depend ing from the controlling plate, a shaft journalled in the latter housing, a switch control wheel fastened to the shaft, a long arm and a plurality of short arms integral with the switch control wheel, electric switches supported in the steering post housing and means coacting with said arms when said steering post is turned to locate said long arm to coact with said switches to open or close the same.

2. In a device of the character described the combination of a steering post for a Vehicle, a steering post housing for the steering post, a cylindrical shaped switch housing fastened to the steering post housing, an annular controlling plate rotatably supported at the upper end of the switch housing, means to rotate the controlling plate with the rotations of the steering post of the vehicle, a pair of electric controlling switches supported in the housing each functioning with an electric circuit for the vehicle, a cam supported in the switch housing, a journaled switch control wheel suspended from said annular controlling plate, a long arm and a plurality of short arms integral with said wheel, said cam coacting with said short arms when the steering post of the vehicle is turned to locate said long arm in proper position to coact with said switches to open and close said electric circuits.

3. In a motor vehicle the combination of a steering post, a steering wheel for the post, a steering post housing for the post, a switch housing connected to said steering post housing, a pair of electric switches in the switch housing and connected thereto, said switches controlling a pair of electric circuits, a plate carried in each switch, a wing integral with each plate, a controlling cam in the switch housing and connected thereto, a controlling plate rotatably supported by the switch housing, means connecting the steering wheel and said controlling plate, a switch control wheel journaled and depending from said controlling plate, a plurality of short arms and one long arm for said wheel, said steering wheel when turned engaging said short arms with said cam to position said long arm downwardly and when in said position upon further turning of said steering wheel engaging the wing of one of the switches to energize one of the electric circuits, said steering wheel when initially turned in the opposite direction engaging the long arm with the wing of the other switch to energize the other electric circuit.

4. In a device for a motor vehicle the combination of a steering post, a steering wheel fastened to said post, a steering post housing for said post, a switch housing connected to the steering post housing, a pair of switches in the switch housing and connected thereto, each switch functioning with an electric circuit, a plate in each switch, a pair of wings integral with each plate, a controlling cam in the switch housing and connected thereto, a controlling plate rotatably connected to said switch housing, connecting means between the steering wheel and said controlling plate, a switch control housing connected to the lower face of said controlling plate, a shaft journaled in the latter housing, a switch control wheel fastened to one end of said shaft, a plurality of short arms and one long arm extending from said wheel, a nut at the other end of the shaft and a pair of springs each having one end fastened to said switch control housing and their other ends bearing against said nut, said steering wheel when turned engaging said short arms with said cam to turn said shaft of said switch control housing to position the long arm of said wheel downwardly and upon the further turning of said steering wheel turning the plate of one of said switches and thereby energizing one of said electric circuits on one side of the vehicle and upon reversing the steering wheel opening said electric circuit.

5. In a device for a motor vehicle the combination of a steering post, a steering post housing for the steering post, a switch housing fastened to the steering post housing, said switch housing comprising a pair of longitudinal cylindrical shaped walls, clamps connecting said walls, a bottom wall having an annular opening for each of said longitudinal walls, an annular controlling plate rotatably supported at the upper end of the switch housing, means to rotate the controlling plate with the steering post, a pair of controlling electric switches adjustably supported upon the bottom walls of the switch housing in their openings and each functioning with an electric circuit, a vertical operating shaft for each switch, a plate having a cavity supported on the shaft of each switch, a housing extending from the controlling plate, a shaft journaled in the latter housing, a switch control wheel fastened to the latter shaft, a long arm and a plurality of short arms integral with the switch control wheel, and a cam inclined toa radial line of said steering post in said switch housing, said cam functioning with the short arm of the switch control wheel to position the latter with its long arm to extend downwardly with the rotations of the steering post and said long arm functioning with each switch to open and close the same.

ALEXANDER H. CHAPLEAU. 

